Two sisters making lemonade for two good causes

Friday

Sofi Davidson, 8, and her sister Piper, 5, of Winchendon, are hoping that people will be really parched on Saturday. They think lemonade might just ease their thirst.

Sofi Davidson, 8, and her sister Piper, 5, of Winchendon, are hoping that people will be really parched on Saturday. They think lemonade might just ease their thirst.

The two girls will spend all of Friday evening squeezing lemons for a cause, raising donations through the sale of their lemonade for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Give.org for the homeless.

Sofi said she was inspired to do something after her Little League team two years ago donated to the Jimmy Fund. Her idea for raising contributions on her own was something that grew from learning what the Jimmy Fund does for those in need.

In the second year, Sofi chose to squeeze lemons for Operation Smile that helps people with cleft palates. She said she found the nonprofit organization online, and thought it was important for people to feel comfortable smiling.

This year, it is puppies that have won Sofi’s heart.

“This third year I’m doing it for the ASPCA for the puppies and kitties,” she declared.

Sofi said she saw there was a need for funds after seeing a television commercial showing puppies suffering in cages. She said it is because she has cats that she felt bad for the animals that she saw suffering.

Sofi is bringing her younger sister on board this year. Piper has helped squeeze lemons in the past, but now she has her own sights set on helping the homeless.

“We are going to try and split the money, and donate half to the ASPCA and the other half to Give.org for the homeless,” said Sofi.

Five-year-old Piper added, “I thought of this because I saw they had no money.”

On Friday night, Sofi and Piper will gather many lemons and hand-squeeze each one.

“It’s actually really fun. We cut them in half and squeeze really hard. We squeeze like a million lemons,” said Sofi. “We get a pitcher and we put in a little bit of sugar and lemon juice and stir it all around. It’s a little sweet, but not too sweet.”

“We take the seeds out of the lemons first,” Piper added.

The girls agreed the whole house smells like lemons when they are through.

Cheryl Paige, owner of the All Steamed Up hot dog stand at 377 State Road in Baldwinville said she has known Sofi and Piper’s mother for years. When Paige first opened the little trailer hot dog stand, the Davidson girls came often to enjoy strawberry shortcake and friendship.

“One day when they came, Sofi said to her mom, ‘Can I ask her?’ and I said ‘Ask me what?’ and she said, ‘Can we have a lemonade stand here?’ I just thought it was a wonderful idea.”

Paige said when Sofi decided to give all the money to charity; it was a win/win situation. Paige has been more than supportive, making sure the lemonade stand has been advertised in the local press and on social media, and has even gone as far as bringing on a dancing hot dog to attract attention.

“People can order lemonade and hot dogs,” Sofi said with a smile.

People that come Saturday can grab lemonade and hot dogs presented a thousand ways. They can order a Kansas dog with shredded cheddar, sweet barbecue sauce and real bacon bits or a Texas dog with sweet red pepper, relish and homemade chili. There are 12 different preconceived hot dog options on the menu but customers can experiment on their own. All Steamed Up offers 13 different toppings.

All Steamed Up is housed in a little 1974 trailer has been completely refurbished from the floor up. Paige has turned it into an organized kitchen that has a quaint country feel. She offers much more than hot dogs at the roadside stand. For those that love real kapusta, Paige has worked to perfect her recipe. Lemonade might also go well with a Frito boat or her sides of macaroni and cheese or potato salad, which packs to go so customers can serve it with dinner. She serves homemade apple crisp, and even has a basket filled with quick bread loaves for people to take home.

Sofi and Piper will be at All Steamed Up on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and hope that many will come because all that fresh lemon squeezing will give their customers a healthy option to the usual lemonade stand powdered and chemical filled sugary drink, plus it goes well with everything and culminates in a good deed.

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